Folding pram



March 28, 1950 o. HALLIWELL 2,502,089

FOLDING PRAM Filed July 3, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VEN T012 WWMeQQ Mal ch 28, 1959 0, HALLIWFLL 2,502,089

FOLDING .PRAM Filed July 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i a 1?: ii

BY MM? AGENT.

. become the sides of the body.

Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING PRAM Oswald Halliwell, Chorley, England Application July 3, 1947, Serial No. 758,777 In Great Britain July 11, 1946 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in perainbulators of the type usually referred to as folding prams.

According to the invention the wheels are provided with stub axles which can be detached from the body of the perambulator and the handle is also detachable therefrom or can be partially detached and folded thereinto and when the wheels have been detached and the handle detached or folded the body can be transformed into a substantially rectangular case or container of a s'ze which can be easily carried and into which the wheels and handle can be stowed.

The invention is illustrated in and will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show two embodiments of the invention. In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a two wheeled perambulator showing the body folded into a case or container with the wheels and handle stowed therein;

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal section showing the perambulator in its unfolded or operative position ready for use;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of Fig, 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the end of the handle;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a four wheeled perambulator showing the body folded into a case or container with the wheels and handle stowed therein;

Fig. 6 is a similar longitudinal section showing the perambulator in its unfolded or operative position ready for use;

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the end of the handle.

In both forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings the body of the perambulator is formed of three main members A, B and C pivotally connected together which when folded form a case or container of substantially rectangular shape and when unfolded form the body of the perambulator.

The first member A, when the three members are in the folded position (Figs. 1 and 5) forms the side a, the bottom a and the two ends a of the case and when unfolded into the operative position (Figs. 2 and 6) the part a becomes the bottom of the bodyof the perambulator, the part a becomes the rear of the body and the parts a.

The second member B, when the three members are in the folded position forms the other side of the case and when the members are unfolded into their operative position (Figs. 2 and 6) forms the member A. When the member B is folded the plates b move into the case and lie snugly against the ends (1 thereof.

The third member C, when the three parts are in the folded position forms the top of the case and when the members are unfolded into their operative position (Figs. 2 and 6) forms a foot rest extending forwardly from the bottom a of the body. The member C is dish shaped the flange 0 of which forms a continuation of the sides a and B and the ends a of the case when in the folded positions (Figs. 1 and 5). I

The member C is pivoted at c at the front of the member A and is prevented from movement beyond the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 by the link (2 and 0 A carrying handle D is affixed to the outside of the member C and a catch d on the member C cooperates with a projection d on the member B to secure and maintain the members when folded into a case (Figs. 1 and 4).

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 a transverse tube or bar E extends between the two sides a of the member A in proximity to the bottom a thereof and approxi mately midway between the front and'rear of the body. Each end of the tube or bar E is formed with an axial recess or bearing e which coincides with an aperture through the corresponding side a The body is supported by two wheelsF each mounted on a short stub axle 1, each stub axle f being adapted to be inserted through the aperture in the side a into one of the axial recesses or bearings e in the ends of the tube or bar E.

When an axle f has been inserted in a recess e; it is retained therein by a pin g which passes through a radial hole in the tube or bar E and engages in a peripheral groove f in the axle. The pin 9 is formed at the end of a sliding rod G held in its operative position by the spring 9 the movement of the rod against the pressure of the spring moving the pin 9 out of the groove f in the axle ,f. The end of the rod G extends beyond the front end of the sides a and is engaged by the member C when the latter is moved into its folded position so that the movement of the member C releases the stub axles and allows the wheels to be removed. The rod G can, when desired, be operated by hand without closing the member C. v

A small wheel or caster H mounted in a bearing it having a projecting stud h is arranged at thebaclr o f theseat. The member B is pivoted at b end of the body A. The stud h is adapted tol enter a recess 1' in a bearing J carried by a bar or tube J extending between the sides a of the body near the front thereof. The stud h is held in position by a pin n located in a radial hole in the stud and which can be withdrawn to allow removal of the wheel or castor. The pin 71 may be connected by a chain 72. or cord to the member B so that the folding of the latter will withdraw the pin h from the stud h The seat K is formed or a strip of canvas or similar material passing round two rods k and k and secured at the ends to springs is anchored to the sides (1.

The handle is formed in three parts L L L connected together by clamps Z which can be tightened up by pivoted fingers il the lower portion L is mounted in a bearing m carried by .a

closed by the screw m to lock the handle thereto. The lower end-of the portion L of the handle is formed with a recess i adapted to engage in a groove n in a transverse oar N when the handle is in its operative position, the bar N thus receiving the propelling force applied to the handle and transmitting it to the body of the perambulator. The free end' of the portion L of the handle is preferably formed witha cross member L for ease in propelling the 'perambulator. 1

When it is desired to stow the handle into the" body of the perarnbulatorwhen the members A, B and C are to be folded to form the carrying case, the clamps Z and the bearings m are loosened so that the end of the part L can be disengaged from the rod N and the handle folded and turned into the position shown in Fig. 1 inside the case. After the handle has been folded into the case the wheels F and the small wheel H are then placed therein in the position indicated in broken lines in Figsj'l and 3 and when the member C is closed a carrying case results with all the parts of "the perambulator housed inside it.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8 the perambulator is supported by four wheels'F, two on each. side and instead of thesingle transverse tube or bar E shown in Fig.j3, two transverse tubes or bars E and are arranged betweenthe sides a2, the tube E being near the front of the body and the tube E near the rear thereof. Each "end of each tube or bar E E is formedwith an axialrecess or. hearing similar to that shown in Fig. 3 which coincides. with an aperture through the corresponding side o f Each wheel F is fmounted on a short stub axle f, each stub axlej being adapted to be inserted through the aperture in. the side. a? into one of the" axial recesses orbearings e in the ends of the tubes or bars E E l When an axle fihas been inserted in a recess a it is retained therein by a pin 9 which passes through a radial hole in the tube or bar E and engages in a peripheral groove fin the axle. The-two pins'g on the same sideofthe body are formed integrally with or attached to a sliding rod G held in its operative position by the spring 9 the movement of the rod against the pressure of the spring moving the pins g out of the grooves in-the axles J. The end ofthe rod G extends beyond'the'frmt end of the sides a and is en-' of the member 0' releases the stub axles and al lows-thewhe'els tobe 'removed; The rod G can;

when desired, be operated by hand without closing the member C.

As in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the seat K is formed of a strip of canvas or similar material passing round two rods k and k and secured at the ends to springs is anchored to the sides a Instead of the handle being formed of a single arm as in Figs. 1 to 4 it is formed of two arms arranged one at each side of the body, the two arms being connected at their outer ends by a cross member L Each arm of the handle is formed in three parts L L L connected together by clamps Z which can be tightened up by pivoted fingers 1 The lower portion L ismounted in a bearing m carried by a stud M The portion L can slide and swivel in the bearing m which is split and can be closed by the screw m to lock the handle thereto.

The lower end of part L of each arm is formed with a recess 1 adapted to engage in a groove 1i in a stud N when the handle is in its operative position, the stud N thus receiving the propelling force applied to the handle and transmitting it to the body of the perambulator.

When it is desired to stow the handle into the body of the peranibulator when the members A, B and C are to be folded to form the carrying case, the clamps Z and the bearing m are loosened so that the ends of the parts L of the arms can be disengaged from the studs N and the handle folded into the position shown in Fig. 5 inside the case. After the handle has been folded into the case the wheels F are then placed therein in the positions indicated in broken lines in Fig.- 5 and when the member C is closed a carrying case results with all the parts of the perambulator housed inside it.

I claim:

1. A folding perambulator comprising in com-"- bination three main members pivotally connected together and forming the body of the perambu-' labor and when folded forming a substantially rectangular case; supporting wheels; stub axles on which the supporting wheels are aihxe'd; tubular means carried by the body; bearings to. receive each of said stub axles, the said bearings being formed in said tubular means; retaining means for each bearing; a peripheral groove formed on each stub axle and entered by-said retaining means; and a sliding bar to which the said retaining means is affixed whereby the axles can be released from their bearings and the wheels removed from the body and stowed within t the case formed by the folding of the three main members.

- 2. A folding perambulator comprising in com being formed in said tubular means; retaining means for each bearing; a peripheral groove formed on each stub axle and entered by said retaining means; and a sliding bar to which the said retaining means is afiixed, the said sliding bar being engaged by one of said main members so as to be moved upon movement of said mainv member into folding position whereby the axles. can be released from their bearings and the wheelsremoved from the body and stowed within" the case formed by the folding of the three main members.

3. A foldingperambulator comprising in combination three main members pivotally connected together and forming the body of the perambulator and when folded forming a substantially rectangular case; supporting wheels; stub axles on which the supporting wheels are afiixed; a tubular member extending transversely across the body of the perambulator; a bearing to receive a stub axle formed at each end of said tubular member; a pin passing through each bearing; a peripheral groove formed on each stub axle and entered by said pin; and a sliding spring controlled bar to which the pin is affixed whereby the axles can be released from their bearings and the wheels removed from the body and stowed within the case formed by the three main members.

4. A folding perambulator comprising in combination three main members pivotally connected together and forming the body of the perambulator and when folded forming a substantially rectangular case; supporting wheels; stub axles on which the supporting wheels are afiixed; a tubular member extending transversely across the body of the perambulator; a bearing to receive a stub axle formed at each end of said tubular member; a pin passing through each bearing; a peripheral groove formed on each stub 6 axle and entered by said pin; and a sliding spring controlled bar to which the pin is afiixed, the said sliding bar being engaged by one of said main members so as to be moved upon movement of said main members into folding position whereby the axles can be released from their bearings and the wheels removed from the body and stowed within the case formed by the folding of the three main members.

OSWALD HALLIWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

